Special Education Paper work

Hello everyone,
I just got back from a CEC conference and feel so depressed and overwhelmed. I feel like going on strike. The paper work and all of the personal liability are beginning to become mind boggling. At this time I am thinking about teaching 5th grade next year. When am I supposed to be able to teach when you just about have to document everything that you do. I now take all of my paper work home with me because there is no time in the school day to do this. Now I am being told that my high school students have to be able to pass the History exit exam and an English exit exam. A representative at the state department told me that I should be teaching one of my students the math objectives at his grade level and that I should just give him a calculator, which will do this child no good because he needs to learn math related to consumer math not algebra. In our state they are making it impossible for students to be able to go to vo-tech, which most of mine need and look forward to. I failed to mention that I teach students with emotional disabilities in k-12th grade and all of these students do not mix well together but administration does not care at all. Since there is a shortage of special ed. teachers they are now hiring anyone who can pass the special ed. test so now we have this new teacher who has a degree in history teaching severe to moderate disabilities and now I get to write his IEP's also because he has no clue and wants them to color all day. Well enough rambling. I love my students and teaching them. I loathe all of this paper work and all of the people who think my students will never amount to anything. What are your thoughts on the future of special ed ?

cynthia,
hi, try not to get too discouraged. I agree with you that the paper work is all consuming, I think it is a sign of the times we live in. Evereyone is so concerned of covering themselves and proving that the "right" thing has been done that quite often what is written on paper is not what really happens anyway.

i am a Special Ed teacher and made the move because I believed that I could really help the students and supprt the teachers in my school. Alas, too much time spent in paper work.

Reading on this site it does seem to be a little more severe where you are, but I am sure we will catch up with you.

Remember you do amke a dfifference and do not underestimate the good you do

cynthia,
hi, try not to get too discouraged. I agree with you that the paper work is all consuming, I think it is a sign of the times we live in. Evereyone is so concerned of covering themselves and proving that the "right" thing has been done that quite often what is written on paper is not what really happens anyway.

i am a Special Ed teacher and made the move because I believed that I could really help the students and supprt the teachers in my school. Alas, too much time spent in paper work.

Reading on this site it does seem to be a little more severe where you are, but I am sure we will catch up with you.

Remember you do amke a dfifference and do not underestimate the good you do